Mia 1/4/09

35.      Q2  2-8-MIA 49 (9:11) C.Pennington pass deep left intended for T.Ginn INTERCEPTED by J.Leonhard [B.Scott] at BLT 35. J.Leonhard to MIA 45 for 20 yards (D.Bess).

The Dolphins lined up 311 (3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB) on 2^nd and 8 vs. the Ravens nickel.  The Ravens initially rushed 4 with no deception.  The pocket collapsed and Pennington was forced left.  Scott (5^th rusher) then bolted in Pennington’s face as he released.  The ball sailed over Rolle and Ginn to Leonhard who returned it 20 yards.  The Ravens would squander the scoring opportunity, but it was a significant reversal of field position with the next Dolphins drive starting at their own 6.  Scoring:  Leonhard 11 (5 + 3 return +3 importance), Scott 3, Ngata 2, Lewis 2, Rolle 1, Reed 1, Washington 1.

36.      Q2  3-8-MIA 19 (2:51) (Shotgun) C.Pennington pass deep left intended for T.Ginn INTERCEPTED by E.Reed at BLT 36.  E.Reed for 64 yards, TOUCHDOWN.  

The Ravens rushed 6 with Lewis dropping to a short middle zone.  Pennington again felt pressure from McClain and unloaded deep left.  Ginn, the intended receiver, fell down at midfield, but Rolle and Reed tracked the ball with Reed taking it in directly over his head at the left numbers.  Ed turned across the field, escaping an ankle tackle from Cobbs at the 40 and crossed both hashes to the opposite number.  At this point the remainder of the secondary was in convoy, the entire offense had followed him to that side, and Reed turned back to his right.  The last 35 yards featured a number of good blocks, most notably Ngata blasting Bess and Suggs flattening Pennington inside the 10.  I credited points to 10 of the 11 Ravens on the field.  So many of Reed’s highlights are visually memorable, but this one had it all…pressure, an acrobatic pick, a fine move to avoid a tackle, a tellustratable setup of the offense, a Ravens defense prepared and eager to set up the return, great blocks, a frightened-looking QB, a seemingly effortless prance into the end zone, and a desperate and late dislodging of the ball from Ginn.  Your kids should be seeing this play 50 years from now.  Scoring:  Reed 17 (5 + 5 TD + 3 acrobatic grab and tactical return + 4 importance), McClain 5 (3 QH + 2 block), Ngata 2, Suggs 2, Washington 2, Pryce 2, Leonhard 1, Rolle 1, Lewis 1, Ivy 1.

37.      Q3  3-8-MIA 22 (13:41) (Shotgun) C.Pennington pass deep left intended for D.Bess INTERCEPTED by F.Washington [T.Pryce] at BLT 49. F.Washington to MIA 39 for 12 yards (T.Ginn).

The Dolphins ran a 4-receiver set vs. the nickel.  The Ravens brought a vanilla 4-man rush, but again got good pressure from Pryce.  Pennington underthrew left for Bess who was bracketed by Washington and Reed.  Fabian made the pick at the left number and after Bess missed the tackle, he attempted to follow Reed’s path by crossing to the opposite sideline to set up a big return, but was taken down by Ginn.  Scoring:  Washington 10 (5 + 2 return + 3 importance), Pryce 3, Suggs 2, Leonhard 2, Rolle 1, Reed 1.

38.      Q3  3-16-MIA 18 (9:52) (Shotgun) P.Cobbs left end to MIA 25 for 7 yards (M.Douglas). FUMBLES (M.Douglas), RECOVERED by BLT-T.Suggs at MIA 19. T.Suggs to MIA 19 for no gain (S.Satele).

The Dolphins lined up with 3 wide receivers and a TE vs. the Ravens quarter (7 DB) set on 3^rd and 16.  Cobbs, in motion, took the handoff from Pennington and ran left.  Rolle, Douglas, and McClain all got a hit on Cobbs, but Douglas poked the ball loose by the left sideline.  Suggs recovered at the 19 (no return).  Scoring:  Douglas 6 (5 + 1 importance), Suggs 6 (5 + 1 importance).

39.       Q3  2-12-BLT 15 (2:04) C.Pennington pass short middle intended for P.Cobbs INTERCEPTED by E.Reed at BLT 8.  E.Reed to BLT 20 for 12 yards (S.Satele).

The Dolphins spread 5 wide vs. the Ravens nickel on 2^nd and 12.  The Ravens rushed 4, but did not create meaningful pressure.  Pennington threw down the left hash between 2 covered receivers (Fasano covered by Scott and Cobbs by Suggs).  Reed flashed into the picture and took the ball off balance at the 8.  He began the play standing on the goal line at the right numbers and made the pick by the left hash.  The off balance Reed stumbled to approximately the 17 yard line before fully regaining his feet.  Satele landed on his leg as he tackled Reed at the 19.  The end zone view showed that had Reed caught with his feet firmly planted, he would have had a good shot at a TD via a wide-open left side (OLS) of the field.  Scoring:  Reed 11 (5 + 2 return + 3 importance + 1 excellent read), Jones 2.  

Ten 1/10/09

40.      Q2  3-8-BLT 32 (4:17) K.Collins pass deep middle intended for J.McCareins INTERCEPTED by S.Rolle at BLT 9. S.Rolle to BLT 12 for 3 yards (J.McCareins).

The Ravens lined up their nickel against a 4-receiver set and rushed 6 with both Edgar Jones and Ngata dropping to coverage.  Leonhard got pressure on Collins who hoisted the ball over McCareins to Samari Rolle at the left hash.  Rolle was taken down quickly by the receiver.  Later, a dejected McCareins could be seen on the bench.  Was he there because the coaching staff thought he should have made a better effort to deflect the ball?  The play ended a 13-play drive which should have ended after 3 plays with a safety of Johnson.  A substantial portion of the  play differential (the Titans ran 71 offensive plays, the Ravens 52) in the game can be ascribed to that missed call.  Scoring:  Rolle 10 (5 + 4 importance + 1 return), Leonhard 3.

41.      Q2  3-4-BLT 22 (:36) (Shotgun) L.White left guard to BLT 17 for 5 yards (J.Johnson). FUMBLES (J.Johnson), RECOVERED by BLT-J.Leonhard at BLT 15. J.Leonhard to BLT 15 for no gain (J.Scott, M.Roos).

The Titans lined up in a 4-receiver alignment vs. the Ravens 7-DB set.  Collins, in the shotgun, handed off to White who looked to stretch left.  The RG Scott pulled and picked up McClain effectively, but White was forced to loop around the block and slowed to look for a lane as Johnson closed in from behind.  Rolle turned the play inside and White turned upfield.  As he passed the 1^st down marker, Johnson hit him, dislodging the ball.  The football bounced directly into Leonhard’s waiting arms.  He immediately fell to the ground and the game remained tied at the half.  Scoring:  Johnson 7 (5 + 2 importance), Leonhard 7 (5 + 2 importance).   Let’s see, 7-7 at halftime, lots of missed opportunities for the Titans, 13-4 Titans in 1^st downs, 256-94 in total yardage, a single 48-yard pass highlighting their TD drive was the lone Ravens offensive bright spot.  Does this remind anyone of another game?

42.   Q4  2-9-BLT 13 (9:08) K.Collins pass short right to A.Crumpler to BLT 6 for 7 yards (J.Leonhard). FUMBLES (J.Leonhard), RECOVERED by BLT-F.Washington at BLT 1.  F.Washington to BLT 1 for no gain (B.Jones).

The Titans lined up 311 vs. the Ravens nickel.  The Ravens rushed 4 without deception.  Collins found Crumpler as an outlet to the right.  As he neared 1^st down yardage, Scott and Leonhard converged with Scott hitting him low and Leonhard leading with his shoulder to Crumpler’s chest.  The TE was sent airborne by the combination and Leonhard’s helmet dislodged the football and sent it towards the goal line where the alert Washington pounced on it at the Ravens 1. There was no return, but McClain dove on the pile separating Titans WR Brandon Jones from Washington who did not cleanly recover the ball.  It was the season’s most important turnover and I’m going to break some of my rules for scoring:  Leonhard 9 (5 FF + 3 importance + 1 helmet accuracy), Washington 6 (5 + 1 importance), Scott 3 (1 importance, 2 helicoptering Crumpler), McClain 2 (crediting with a block in recovery aid).

Pit 1/18/09

43.    Q1  2-2-PIT 41 (2:20) W.Parker left guard to PIT 41 for no gain (R.Lewis). FUMBLES (R.Lewis), RECOVERED by BLT-J.Leonhard at PIT 43.  J.Leonhard to PIT 43 for no gain (N.Washington).

The Steelers lined up 221 vs. the Ravens standard 4-DB alignment with the TE’s split.  Parker took the handoff and ran left, but Lewis penetrated the B gap between Jones and Bannan and punched the ball free.  Once again, Leonhard collected the ball, this time by beating Nate Washington for the recovery.  Similarly to the previous week’s end-of-half fumble, Leonhard hauled the ball in quickly and did not attempt a return.  The play kept the Ravens in the game at 13-7.  Scoring:  Lewis 7 (5 + 2 importance), Leonhard 7 (5 + 2 importance).

Jim Leonhard stepped up for a depleted defense in the playoffs, scoring 40 turnover points among other contributions.  Here are the final totals: